Seeing the Infinite Suffering of Sentient Beings
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on March 14, 2025
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
March 14, 2025, First Session
Namo Amituofo’s discourse:
The Ubiquity of Sentient Beings
Where do sentient beings reside? You must first realise that you are one of them. However, you are never truly alone. Within your own physical form, there exists a vast multitude of beings: the countless cells that make up your body, your who follow you life after life, the attached spirits who reside within your physical form, and the various demon crowds that seek to distract you from the truth.
Beyond your own body, the air around you is filled with countless beings. In the spaces that your eyes cannot see, there are infinite lives. Throughout the vastness of the Realm and across the Earth, there are countless beings trapped in the six realms of rebirth, wandering without end.
The Inevitability of Physical Suffering
How many can truly say they are in control of their own lives? You are born into this world without the ability to choose your circumstances. You do not wish to age, yet your body inevitably slows down and grows old. You do not wish to fall ill, yet one sickness follows another, a relentless cycle of pain. You do not wish for the moment when the elements separate at death, yet that moment approaches regardless of your desires.
Because your personality remains difficult to change, your karmic creditors follow you closely. Your body is filled with resentment, creating a dark, heavy energy that makes it difficult for the light of your true nature to shine through.
The Struggle of the Practitioner
When you sit to practise, or when you attend a Dharma assembly, you may find it difficult to maintain your focus. Whether you are listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma, performing prostrations, chanting Namo Amituofo, or reciting the Sutras, you often find yourself unable to resist the pull of . You drift into a state of unconsciousness, losing your connection to the present moment. Is this not a profound form of suffering?
There is the suffering of poverty and lack of resources. There is the suffering of old age and illness, where one can no longer care for oneself. There is the suffering of physical disability, which prevents one from moving with ease. Although these are the fruits of the laws of and cause and effect manifesting in this life, they are the result of the ignorance and delusion you held in the past. You created negative causes that you could not stop, and now you must endure the resulting suffering.
The Path to Liberation at Hsiang Kuang
If you have not yet heard the Great Dharma that allows one to transcend the cycle of birth and death, it is very difficult to escape this suffering. If you do not understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, you will continue to create evil, and you will inevitably be reborn in the three evil realms, suffering through endless cycles of retribution.
However, you are now at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, where countless beings have found the opportunity to be saved. Here, you can listen to sutras and hear the Dharma to understand how to transcend life and death, break free from the cycle of reincarnation, and leave suffering behind. You can also come to understand the laws of karma and cause and effect so that you may cease creating evil and avoid the three evil realms.
The Final Refuge
Let go of all worldly attachments. Chant Namo Amituofo all the way. By doing so, you will resolve all suffering and transcend the cycle of life and death. Your spirit will no longer be subject to aging or illness; you will be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Practise diligently here at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. By relying on both your own efforts and the power of the Buddha, you will be able to untangle the layers of confusion and obstacles. You will resolve the suffering of the beings within your body, help yourself escape the cycle of aging and death, and reach in this very lifetime.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library